S.R. 415 widening disrupts peace of rural community

Published: Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 7:10 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 10:48 p.m.

OSTEEN — Big changes have come to this place of serenity, where black water still chops beneath a wide bright blue sky.

Beneath one span of State Road 415, near a barge on the St. Johns River, the buzz of an electric saw tears into concrete piles. United Infrastructure Group workers are building a second bridge, part of an $81 million widening of the highway between Sanford and Deltona.

Locals say the highway project is a "grin-and-bear-it," something that will undoubtedly improve the safety of the road, a "back door" for commuters trying to avoid Interstate 4 when traveling to jobs or beaches. It's also widely expected to bring development to the east side of Deltona, which has annexed parcels that abut the east and west sides of 415.

So far, the contractors working on the north section of the project, P&S Paving, are doing a good job, said Warren Brookshire, president of the Kove Estates Homeowners Association. Almost 500 residents live in the retirement community about three miles north of the river and the Volusia-Seminole County line.

"It's gonna be a long process and it is a lot of aggravation because of the amount of traffic," Brookshire said. "When it's done, it's going to be excellent."

One of the first tasks of the three-year job was constructing a sound barrier wall in front of Kove Estates.

Brookshire said residents are pleased with the wall.

Others are concerned about safety — their own and that of workers along the eight-mile stretch being widened between State Road 46 on the south end and Reed Ellis Road on the north.

Ron Marlar, a Kove Estates resident, said commuters on the highway routinely ignore the construction-zone speed limit of 40 mph.

"I'm 71, going on 72. I'm part of the youth group here," he joked. "Most people, when we're exiting from Kove Estates, are going north. The cars coming over that hill (to the south), you can't see them, especially on hazy mornings or at dusk. They're right on top of you before you know it."

A number of businesses along the stretch appeared busy one morning this week. The parking lot at the Osteen Diner was full of motorcycles. But Sheryl Manche, who owns a farm along S.R. 415 near Kove Estates, said the work has stunted a farmers market she attempted to start earlier this year.

"We decided to put up a produce stand in January," Manche said. "We decided to shut it down because there's just too much work going on now. No one can see past my driveway."

But resident Marlar said the work on the bridge, visible from Gators Riverside Grille, is quite a sight.

To build a second span more than a half-mile in length, contractors are driving 24-foot concrete piles on both sides of the river. The contractor is also de-watering a cofferdam on the south bank in preparation for pouring the pier footing, according to April Heller, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Transportation.

Marlar said many of the residents moved there to enjoy the peace.

"Bucolic, pastoral. It's the reason I'm out here in the country. I don't like cities," he said. "But you never stop progress. All you can do is keep moving away from it."

<p>OSTEEN &mdash; Big changes have come to this place of serenity, where black water still chops beneath a wide bright blue sky. </p><p>Beneath one span of State Road 415, near a barge on the St. Johns River, the buzz of an electric saw tears into concrete piles. United Infrastructure Group workers are building a second bridge, part of an $81 million widening of the highway between Sanford and Deltona. </p><p>Locals say the highway project is a "grin-and-bear-it," something that will undoubtedly improve the safety of the road, a "back door" for commuters trying to avoid Interstate 4 when traveling to jobs or beaches. It's also widely expected to bring development to the east side of Deltona, which has annexed parcels that abut the east and west sides of 415. </p><p>So far, the contractors working on the north section of the project, P&S Paving, are doing a good job, said Warren Brookshire, president of the Kove Estates Homeowners Association. Almost 500 residents live in the retirement community about three miles north of the river and the Volusia-Seminole County line. </p><p>"It's gonna be a long process and it is a lot of aggravation because of the amount of traffic," Brookshire said. "When it's done, it's going to be excellent." </p><p>One of the first tasks of the three-year job was constructing a sound barrier wall in front of Kove Estates. </p><p>Brookshire said residents are pleased with the wall. </p><p>Others are concerned about safety &mdash; their own and that of workers along the eight-mile stretch being widened between State Road 46 on the south end and Reed Ellis Road on the north. </p><p>Ron Marlar, a Kove Estates resident, said commuters on the highway routinely ignore the construction-zone speed limit of 40 mph. </p><p>"I'm 71, going on 72. I'm part of the youth group here," he joked. "Most people, when we're exiting from Kove Estates, are going north. The cars coming over that hill (to the south), you can't see them, especially on hazy mornings or at dusk. They're right on top of you before you know it." </p><p>A number of businesses along the stretch appeared busy one morning this week. The parking lot at the Osteen Diner was full of motorcycles. But Sheryl Manche, who owns a farm along S.R. 415 near Kove Estates, said the work has stunted a farmers market she attempted to start earlier this year. </p><p>"We decided to put up a produce stand in January," Manche said. "We decided to shut it down because there's just too much work going on now. No one can see past my driveway." </p><p>But resident Marlar said the work on the bridge, visible from Gators Riverside Grille, is quite a sight. </p><p>To build a second span more than a half-mile in length, contractors are driving 24-foot concrete piles on both sides of the river. The contractor is also de-watering a cofferdam on the south bank in preparation for pouring the pier footing, according to April Heller, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Transportation. </p><p>Marlar said many of the residents moved there to enjoy the peace. </p><p>"Bucolic, pastoral. It's the reason I'm out here in the country. I don't like cities," he said. "But you never stop progress. All you can do is keep moving away from it."</p>